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United States Patent | 5,731,763 |
Herweck ,   et al. | March 24, 1998 |
An access controller for a television, computer or display device includes a wireless transmitter and a receiving unit. The receiving unit has a tamper-proof housing that covers the device power line and protects receiving and switching circuitry. The receiving circuitry receives and demodulates a control signal sent by the transmitter, and drives the switching circuitry between ON and OFF states. In a preferred embodiment, the housing has opposed halves which close about the device plug. A pigtail line cord extends from the housing and provides power through the switch, to the device plug. The housing itself is featureless, and the transmitter is an inconspicuous, pocketable, push-button device, so the TV or other device may be controlled without physically approaching or otherwise revealing either the nature of the control mechanism or even that the operator is exercising control. This effectively conceals the presences and operation of the switch from discovery, preventing behavioral problems associated with parent-child enforcement situations. Preferred embodiments involve a simple clamshell or clamp-on box, which may be permanently or releasably locked on the line cord.
Inventors: | Herweck; Steve A. (12 Lansing Dr., Nashua, NH 03049); Herweck; Mathew S. (12 Lansing Dr., Nashua, NH 03049) |
Appl. No.: | 413457 |
Filed: | March 30, 1995 |
Current U.S. Class: | 340/825.69; 200/43.22; 220/252; 340/825.72; 361/654; 361/658; 439/535; 439/901; 439/915 |
Intern'l Class: | H01H 009/02; H01H 009/54 |
Field of Search: | 174/53 200/43.22,61.93,293 206/330 220/210,252,253 340/825.22,825.69,825.72 361/636,641,654,658,740 439/133,535,536,892,901,915,950 |
4279012 | Jul., 1981 | Beckedorff et al. | 340/825. |
4591657 | May., 1986 | Masters | 220/210. |
4686380 | Aug., 1987 | Angott. | |
4959647 | Sep., 1990 | Daigle | 340/825. |
5099193 | Mar., 1992 | Moseley et al. | 340/825. |
5189412 | Feb., 1993 | Mehta et al. | 340/825. |
5382947 | Jan., 1995 | Thaler et al. | 340/825. |
5481251 | Jan., 1996 | Buys et al. | 340/825. |
Foreign Patent Documents | |||
63-291327 (A) | Nov., 1988 | JP | 340/825. |
2 210 217 | Jun., 1989 | GB | 340/825. |
2 210 187 | Jun., 1989 | GB | 340/825. |
88/07246 | Sep., 1988 | WO | 340/825. |
TV Guard product packaging and instruction brochure. No Date. SDI Pocket Remote Power Control catalog excerpt. No Date. Time Slot catalog excerpt. No Date. Stanley miniature transmitter packaging instruction. No Date. Genie Remote In-house Light Control product packaging. No Date. Connect-a-Plug product packaging. No Date. |